Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder, affecting millions worldwide.
Recent estimates put the global insomnia prevalence at over 16%. While the condition is generally higher in females than males, certain lifestyle factors can predispose anyone to sleep deprivation.
Insomnia presents a range of symptoms, such as daytime grogginess and fatigue. If untreated, the sleep disorder can impair your cognitive functioning and trigger severe mental health issues, including anxiety and depression.
A few years back, conventional sleep pills were the first port of call for people with sleep deprivation. However, the recent past has seen a significant shift towards alternative interventions like delta-8 gummies.
Here’s why many wellness enthusiasts are turning to delta-8 gummies for insomnia relief.
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What Are Delta-8 Sleep Gummies?
Delta-8 sleep gummies are gummies formulated with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a naturally occurring cannabinoid in cannabis widely used for medicinal and recreational purposes.
THC is probably most famous for its psychoactive effects. It’s the principal chemical in marijuana that accounts for the plant’s mind-altering properties.
But like other non-psychoactive cannabinoids – such as cannabidiol (CBD) – THC may also provide multiple health benefits. Treating sleep deprivation is one of its numerous therapeutic applications.
Tetrahydrocannabinol exists in several analogs. Those include the more popular delta-9 and other lesser-known ones, such as delta-8 and delta-10.
THC isomers have different chemical structures, depending on the location of the double bond. Delta-8 is so named because its double bond occurs on the eighth carbon atom in the compound’s molecular chain.
These structural differences also impact the overall effects of each THC isomer.
As you shall find, not only might delta 8 sleep gummies relieve insomnia. The chewies also deliver milder psychoactive effects than delta-9.
How Popular Are Delta-8 Sleep Gummies?
Delta-9 has always been the most popular THC isomer. That’s despite the fact that the other analogs were isolated years ago.
However, delta-8 has garnered significant attention in the recent past for its milder effects on the psyche. A 2022 study examining cannabis-related internet search queries in the United States noted a substantial increase in delta-8 searches.
Legal accessibility is another reason behind the surging delta-8 popularity.
Compared to delta-9, delta-8 sleep gummies are subjected to less stringent regulations. That’s because the products are typically obtained from the non-psychoactive cannabinoid – CBD.
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How Might Delta-8 Sleep Gummies Relieve Insomnia?
1. Shortening Sleep Latency
Sleep latency is the duration a person takes to drift from complete wakefulness to sleep after turning off the lights. It’s also known simply as sleep onset time.
Healthy individuals have a sleep onset time of 5 – 15 minutes. For insomniacs, the duration can stretch for up to one hour or longer.
Earlier trials found that using delta-8 sleep gummies may shrink sleep latency significantly. Although the studies were based on tetrahydrocannabinol in general, it’s logical to attribute the findings to all THC isomers, including delta-8.
Researchers also noted that the test subjects exhibited minimal jitteriness at bed time, underscoring delta-8’s mellowing effects.
2. Prolonging Sleep Duration
It’s one thing to slip into deep slumber within minutes, but a completely different thing to remain asleep for longer hour blocks.
Fortunately, taking delta-8 sleep gummies at bedtime may provide the best of both worlds.
One way delta-8 gummies prolong sleep duration is by treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Multiple studies have shown that THC may ease PTSD-related symptoms, including agitation, flashbacks, and nightmares.
As these are leading causes of sleep disruption, it’s logical to infer that taking delta-8 gummies may prolong your sleep.
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3. Improving Breathing During Sleep
Sleep apnea is another cause of frequent sleep disruptions. While the condition is less scary than it sounds, it can significantly diminish your sleep quality if it goes untreated.
According to research, administering delta-8 THC may improve breathing during sleep.
Delta-8 gummies are remarkably calming, making them a reliable intervention for sleep-related breathing issues like sleep apnea.
4. Treating Secondary Sleep Problems
Various secondary issues can trigger or exacerbate insomnia. Examples include, excruciating pain, numbing inflammation, and severe anxiety.
Delta-8 gummies possess incredible analgesic properties.
Like other cannabinoids in marijuana, delta-8 THC may ease pain by blocking certain pathways in the central nervous system (CNS) that aid the transmission of pain signals to the brain. That mechanism enables the compound to potentially relieve pain-induced insomnia.
Delta-8 gummies may also improve sleep quality by alleviating inflammation. When consumed, THC impedes the secretion of key pro-inflammatory substances like cytokines and chemokines.
Insomniacs suffering from anxiety disorders may benefit from delta-8 gummies as well.
While delta-8 THC is generally stimulating at smaller doses, the compound is calming at moderate amounts. It notably relieves stress by activating the secretion of ‘feel-good’ neurotransmitters like serotonin.
Are There Side Effects?
Delta-8’s popularity is principally due to its milder psychoactive properties. However, overdosing on this otherwise therapeutic compound can trigger a slew of unpleasant reactions.
Common side effects include impaired consciousness, gastrointestinal irritation, bloodshot eyes, and elevated heart rate.
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Wrap Up
Delta-8 gummies treat insomnia primarily by shortening the sleep onset time and prolonging sleep duration. Research indicates that the active cannabinoid in these chewies – tetrahydrocannabinol – may also relieve various secondary causes of sleeplessness, including anxiety and pain.
However, moderation is key while administering delta-8 sleep gummies.
While delta-8 is milder than its more potent cousin – delta-9 – an overdose may trigger certain adverse reactions. The conventional wisdom is to start with smaller doses and build momentum gradually.
Reference Links:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1087079225000747
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955395921004758
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF00437513#page-1/
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs40261-014-0212-3/
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyt.2013.00001/full/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22448949/
